Couscous con Verdure (Italian Vegetable Couscous)
An unexpected taste of Sicily
While planning my 2023 trip to Sicily, couscous wasn’t exactly on my radar. After all, I had Italian dishes on my mind. How could a North African staple fit in? But the more I explored the island’s layered history, shaped by centuries of conquest and cultural exchange, the more a new picture started to form. Outside influences gradually became local traditions, and couscous had long earned its place at the Sicilian table. While it’s not found everywhere, it’s considered a regional speciality, particularly in the western part of the island. Its roots trace back to the Arab rule between the 9th and 11th centuries, when it was introduced and slowly evolved into what’s now known as Couscous con Verdure.
